Chapter 1160

He was entirely candid.

It was the quiet certainty of a man who had thought it through and decided to put all his cards on the table.

She had expected to hear hollow promises like, “I’ll take good care of her,” or “I’ll make her happy.”

“An admission ticket…”

Rosalind chewed on those words in her mind.

She suddenly realized she had been viewing the situation far too cynically.

True, pure sincerity did exist in this world.

At the very least, in that exact moment, she saw it in him.

After a long silence, Rosalind let out a deep, heavy sigh.

The weight that had been pressing on her chest for days finally evaporated.

She picked up her teacup and took a long sip, as if steadying her own nerves. “Tell her to cook less in the future. It’s bad for your health.”

Seth’s rigid posture finally, slowly, relaxed.

…

Noreen had no idea what they had talked about.

But she could clearly feel the shift in Rosalind’s attitude.

She was intensely curious about how Seth had actually managed to win her mother’s approval.

So, when she walked him downstairs, she couldn’t help but ask.

Seth stopped walking and turned his head slightly to look at her.

He was half-hidden in the dim shadows of the street, making his eyes look exceptionally deep in the night.

“It’s a secret,” Seth said, holding her gaze. His tone was laced with an undeniable, gentle certainty. “You just need to choose me. Leave the rest to me.”

Noreen’s heart fiercely skipped a beat.

The glow of the streetlamp drew a romantic line between them, casting half of them in shadow and half in a warm, golden hue.

Looking at him, she suddenly felt that this man made her feel safer than she ever could have imagined.

She let out a soft breath and whispered, “Okay.”

It was getting late, and after saying goodbye, Noreen turned to head inside.

But Seth caught her wrist. “Why are you in such a rush? I have something for you.”

It was Valentine’s Day, after all.

Seth let go of her wrist and slowly pulled a dark blue velvet box from his coat pocket.

The box was small, but under the streetlamp, it exuded a quiet, undeniable luxury.

He popped the lid open. Inside sat a stunning ruby ring.

The ruby was a deep, flawless red,

ét

flax Crystallized blood or a captured

reflecting a blinding, hypnotic

light under the dim glow.

The platinum setting was elegantly minimalist, specifically designed to make the gemstone the absolute star.

Noreen’s gaze locked onto the ring, her breath hitching in her throat.

“A ruby from the Aeterna Amoris collection, Seth’s voice washed øver her, low and incredibly tender “Legend says this specifte ruby symbolizes a burning, unwavering loyalty that never fades.”

He had spotted it instantly at an auction, simply because he knew it belonged on Noreen.

And he had finally waited for the day he could put it on her finger himself.

He picked up the ring, gently cradling her left hand, and slowly slid it onto her ring finger.

It fit perfectly.

The moment the cold metal brushed her skin, an intense heat seemed to spark from her fingertips, surging straight into her heart.

Noreen looked down at the ring, her eyes suddenly burning with tears.

She looked up. The warm light of the streetlamp swirled in the depths of Seth’s eyes.

He was looking at her, his gaze more serious and profound than she had ever seen.

“Noreen,” he said softly, his voice

cutting clearly through the night his ring is my promise to

wind.

not just Valentine’s Day special. It’s for a lifetime.”